Seal

ABSTRACT

A seal for use in fluid containing structures of the type having an upstanding wall the lower edge of which is inserted within an endless U-shaped trough formed in a base. The seal is positioned within the trough and is exposed to the fluid within the container for absorbing a portion of the fluid and expanding in response thereto to seal the joint between the wall and the base.

United States Patent 1 1111 3,771,175

Goettl 1451 N0v.13, 1973 SEAL 2,945,541 7/1960 Maly et al. 277/227 SM [76] Inventor: Adam D. Goettl, 4960 E. Palomino Dr, ph Ariz 50 Prim'ary ExaminerBilly J. Wilhite Assistant ExaminerStuart S. Levy [22] Fled: Sept 1971 Att0rneyR0bert E. Haynes, Jr.

21 Appl. No.: 183,049

[57] ABSTRACT 4/l72'l9 A seal for use in fluid containing structures of the type s th d f h [58] Field of Search 4/172, 172.19, 183, havmg upstandmg wall 6 e ge inserted within an endless U-shaped trough formed in 2 235 ggifigglfi g g i gg g a base. The seal is positioned within the trough and is exposed to the fluid within the container for absorbing a portion of the fluid and expanding in response [56] References Cited thereto to seal the joint between the wall and the base.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,710,401 1/1973 Goettl 4/172.19 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 3,325,999 6/1967 Schroeder, Jr 220/18 34417 T 4 2 22c 22 r j 14 PATENIEDHUY '13 7973 SHEET 1 BF 2 I N V EN TOR. 404M 9. 635774 PATENTEUHUY 1 lsm 3771.175

SHEET 2 BF 2 IN V EN TOR. 404M 2 6057/2 AGE/VT SEAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention I This invention relates to seal structures and more particularly to fluid absorbing expansive seal for use in sealing a joint in a fluid container.

2.Description of the Prior Art It is oftentimes desirable to erect a low cost substantially maintenance free fluid containing structure which can be dismantled when desired or it is no longer needed. For example, above ground swimming pools are normally dismantled at the end of the swimming season to eliminate costly year around maintenance and so that the area they occupy may be used for offseason activities. Another example of the need for this type of fluid containing structure is water storage tanks which are used for livestock watering, construction purposes and the like.

Sealing of the annular joint between a base or ground surface and an upstanding wall of this type of structure is normally accomplished by employing one of three basic methods.

The first type of seal, commonly employed in swimming pools, is a plastic liner. The liners are not only costly, they are easily punctured and are subject to tearing, thus requiring frequent patching and periodic replacement.

The second type of seal is a caulking compound which requires that drying time be allowed when it is first installed. Any wall vibrations which may occur after the compound has dried may result in cracking and ultimate deterioration of the seal. Also dismantling a container erected in this manner results in destruction of the seal.

The third type of seal is a resilient gasket which must be clamped or otherwise held in firm engagement with the base and the side wall. One method of retaining this type of seal is to form an upwardly opening U-shaped trough or channel in the base structure. The lower edge of the upstanding wall and the gasket are inserted into the channel to provide support for the wall and seal the joint. As in the previously described sealing method, wall vibrations create problems in this case causing dislodging of the seal. I

The need therefore exists for a new and useful seal for use in sealing the annular joint between a base and upstanding wall of a fluid container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention disclosed, a new and useful seal is provided which is particularly adapted for use in fluid containing structures.

The seal of the present invention comprises an elongated body formed of absorbent material of the class which expands upon absorption of a fluid. The seal may also include an elongated compressible resilient skin or sealing member which is placed in contiguous engagement with at least a portion of the surface of the absorbent body.

The seal is particularly suited for installation in a U- shaped endless trough formed in the base of a fluid container into which the lower edge of an upstanding wall is also installed. The seal is installed within the trough so that at least a portion of the absorbent body is exposed to the fluid and the resilient skin is adjacent to the joint of the wall and the base. When the absorbent body expands in response to the fluid absorbed thereby, laterally exerted forces apply compressive pressure to the resilient skin causing it to seal the joint.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful seal for use in fluid containing structures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful seal which is employed to seal the annular joint between a base and an upstanding wall of a fluid container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful seal which is adapted to be installed in an endless U-shaped trough formed in a base of a fluid container into which an upstanding wall of the container is also installed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful seal which is particularly adapted to be installed in an endless U-shaped trough formed in a base of a fluid container into which a loweredge of an upstanding endless wall assembly of the container is also installed. The seal is provided with an absorbent body which expands upon absorbing a fluid to seal the joint between the wall and the base.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful seal which is particularly adapted to be installed in an endless U'-shaped trough formed in a base of a fluid container into which an upstanding wall of the container is also installed. The seal is provided with an absorbent body and a resilient skin, the body expanding upon absorbing a fluid to apply pressure on the skin causing it to seal the joint between the wall and the base.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful method of sealing an annular joint between a base and an upstanding wall of a fluid container.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention, the various features thereof, as well as the invention itself, may be more fully understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fluid containing structure incorporating the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating a modification of the seal of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating another modification of the seal of the present invention;

FIGS. 5. and 6 are views similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the steps of the method of the present invention for sealing an annular joint in a fluid container;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional plan view illustrating one method of sealing the abutting ends of the seal of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing an alternate method of sealing the abutting ends of the seal of the present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a fluid containing structure 10 or tank, the configuration and structural details of which were chosen for illustrative purposes, and these details should'not be construed as limiting to the seal of the present invention.

The tank includes a base 12 or first structural member which is shown as a circular concrete footing formed in a ground surface 14. It should be understood that the base may be a continuous floor structure formed of concrete, wood, metal or any other suitable material.

The base 12 is provided with an endless upwardly opening U-shaped trough 16 or seal retaining structure suitably formed therein. The trough 16 has a bottom l8,a vertical wall or surface 20, inwardly disposed with respect to the tank 10, and a vertical wall or surface 22 outwardly disposed with respect to the tank 10. The walls 20 and 22 are substantially parallel to each other and are spaced apart to provide a width dimension A (FIG. 2) of the trough 16.

The trough 16 or channel is formed in the base 12 in the desired geometric configuration, such as circular, oval and the like and is adapted to receive a lower edge 24 of an upstanding wall 26 or second structural membet. The wall 26 may be formed of metal or any other fluid impervious material which is flexible enough along its length so that it may be formed to coincide with the geometric shape of the trough 16. The wall 26 is formed so thatits opposite ends 28 are in abutting contact with each other, and the joint formed thereby may be sealed by any of several well-known methods such as an elastomeric gasket (not shown), thus forming an endless wall assembly.

The lower edge 24 of the wall 26 is positioned within the trough 16 so as to be in contiguous engagement with the outer wall 22 and the bottom 18 of the trough, with this area of contiguous engagement being defined as an endless joint between the wall 26 and the base 12, with the remaining area in the trough providing a seal retaining area. The width dimension A of the trough 16 is determined by the thickness dimension B of the wall 26 and the thickness dimension C of a seal 30 of the present invention.

The seal 30 as best seen in FIGS. 2-6 may be generically defined as having a body 32 formed of absorbent material selected from the class of materials which expand upon absorbing a fluid. The seal 30 may also include a skin 34 or sealing member formed of resilient compressible material, the skin 34 is positioned in contiguous engagement with at least a portion of the peripheral surface 36 of the body 32.

The body 32 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 is preferably formed of wood which due to its cellular fiberous nature absorbs fluid and expands in response thereto. Since the wood forming the body 32 will be exposed to a fluid, the most desirable woods are redwood and cedar selected for their rot resistant characteristics. Prior to exposing the wood to fluid, it may be desirable to treat the wood with a wetting agent to facilitate per meation of the wood.

One species of the seal 30, identified as 30a in FIG. 2, has the body 32a formed of a suitable cellulose sponge-like material such as hemp or any of the synthetic materials possessing the hereinbefore described characteristics. The skin 34a of this species completely encloses the body 32a, is compressible as hereinbefore described, and is porous so as to pass fluid therethrough to the absorbent body 32a. A material suitable for this application is sponge rubber.

A second species of the present invention is identifled as sea] 30b in FIG. 3. As hereinbefore described, the preferred material for the body 32 is wood, and therefore the body 32b is an elongated wooden slat which is thin enough to permit flexing along its length to conform to the geometric configuration of the trough 16. The wooden slat may be one piece or several depending on the peripheral dimension of the tank. The skin 34b of this second species may be an elongated flat sheet of compressible resilient material such as rubber, neoprene and the like which is formed into a U-shape upon insertion into the trough 16. It should be noted that the material for the skin 34b of this second species may be molded or otherwise formed into the desired U-shaped configuration.

The seals 30a and 30b of the first and second species illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively, as well as a third and fourth species to be hereinafter described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, operate in the same manner and in accordance with the same principles. The width dimension A of the trough 16 is selected to accomodate the thickness dimension B of the wall 26 and the thickness dimension C of the seal 30, so that the seal is a relatively tight or snug fit. When a fluid is introduced into the tank 10 the body 32 of the seal 30 expands upon absorbing a portion of the fluid. In the species of FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6, the expansion applies a compressive load on the skin 34 causing it to conform to the interior configuration of the trough 16 and the lower edge 24 of the wall 26 and thus forms an effective seal between the base 12 and the wall 26.

A seal 30c illustrated in FIG. 4 employs only a body portion 320 in the form of at least one elongated wooden slat. This species eliminates the skin 34 and relies on relatively soft texture of the wood to conform to the interior of the trough l6 and the lower end 24 of the wall 26 when the body 32c expands in response to absorbing a fluid.

The seal 30d of the species illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 is fabricated and installed within the trough 16 in a different manner which results in a compressive preloading of the skin 34d. The method of fabricating and installing the seal 30d of this species of the present invention is disclosed in the following steps: stretching an elongated tubular skin 34d of resilient material to radially expand the bore thereof; inserting an elongated wooden slat, body 32d, into the radially expanded bore of the skin 34d; releasing the stretched tubular skin 34d into taut engagement with the periphery of the body 32d; installing the body 32d with the taut tubular skin 34d, into the trough l6 and into engagement with the wall 26; and cutting the taut skin 34d along its length to relieve the tautness thereof and allow the skin to swell within the trough l6.

Stretching of the tubular skin 34d to permit insertion of the body 32d therein may be accomplished by suitable well-known vacuum tooling.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate two methods of abutting the opposite ends 38 of the elongated seal 30. Either of these methods could also be employed if the seal 30 were installed in several segments as may be desirable in the case of a large tank.

The method illustrated in FIG. 7 shows the opposite ends 38 as being mitered with an insert 40 installed therebetween. The insert 40 is fabricated of resilient material similar to the material of the skin 34 to allow longitudinal expansion of the seal. By knowing the coefficient of expansion of body material, the space for expansion allowed between the opposite ends 38 can be calculated.

The method illustrated in FIG. 8 is particularly adapted for the installation of the seal in segments as previously described. This method is to install the ends 38 in an off-set relationship with the ends 42 of the skin 34.

While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in the preferred embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications in structure, arrangements, proportions, the elements, and materials used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operating requirements without departing from those principles. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover and embrace any such modifications within the limits only of the true scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A fluid container comprising in combination:

a. a base having an endless upwardly opening U- shaped trough formed therein;

b. an endless upstanding wall having a lower edge thereof inserted within said endless trough of said base to form an endless joint at the location where the lower edge of said wall engages the interior of said U-shaped trough, the thickness dimension of said wall being less than the width dimension of said trough to provide a seal retaining area within said trough, said wall positioned in contiguous engagement with the outermost vertically disposed interior surface of said U-shaped trough to position said seal retaining area inwardlyv with respect to said wall; and

c. an elongated fluid-absorbing expansive seal within said seal retaining area of said endless trough and positioned for contiguous engagement with the joint between said base and said wall, said seal exposed to the fluid of said fluid container for absorbing a portion of the fluid and expanding upon absorption thereof.

2. A fluid container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said seal comprises at least one elongated wooden slat.

3. A fluid container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said seal comprises: 7

a. a body formed of at least one elongated wooden slat; and

b. a compressible resilient skin in contiguous engagement with at least one surface of said body.

4. A fluid container as claimed in claim 3 wherein said skin is formed in a U-shape configuration into which said body is positioned.

5. A fluid container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said seal comprises:

a. an elongated tubular skin formed of compressible resilient material with at least a portion of the surface thereof having fluid passing pores formed therethrough; and

b. a body contained within said skin, said body formed of cellular material of the class of materials which expand upon absorbing a fluid. 

1. A fluid container comprising in combination: a. a base having an endless upwardly opening U-shaped trough formed therein; b. an endless upstanding wall having a lower edge thereof inserted within said endless trough of said base to form an endless joint at the location where the lower edge of said wall engages the interior of said U-shaped trough, the thickness dimension of said wall being less than the width dimension of said trough to provide a seal retaining area within said trough, said wall positioned in contiguous engagement with the outermost vertically disposed interior surface of said U-shaped trough to position said seal retaining area inwardly with respect to said wall; and c. an elongateD fluid-absorbing expansive seal within said seal retaining area of said endless trough and positioned for contiguous engagement with the joint between said base and said wall, said seal exposed to the fluid of said fluid container for absorbing a portion of the fluid and expanding upon absorption thereof.
 2. A fluid container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said seal comprises at least one elongated wooden slat.
 3. A fluid container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said seal comprises: a. a body formed of at least one elongated wooden slat; and b. a compressible resilient skin in contiguous engagement with at least one surface of said body.
 4. A fluid container as claimed in claim 3 wherein said skin is formed in a U-shape configuration into which said body is positioned.
 5. A fluid container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said seal comprises: a. an elongated tubular skin formed of compressible resilient material with at least a portion of the surface thereof having fluid passing pores formed therethrough; and b. a body contained within said skin, said body formed of cellular material of the class of materials which expand upon absorbing a fluid. 